Smith and other Mountain
State natives will be profiled in the News and Public Affairs
presentation of Inspiring West Virginians Thursday at 9pm on West Virginia Public Radio.
With a turnover of more than three billion dollars a year,
Intuit has been named “One of the Top 100 Best Places to Work” in the United States eight years in a row, and the nation’s “Most Admired”
software company for six years in a row.
"Intuit is a very special company because it was
started 26 years ago by our founder, who is still actively involved, Scott
Cook," said Smith.
"He observed his wife sitting at the kitchen table
struggling to do something everybody tries to do which is balance their
checkbook. And so he had an inspiration
and with a small team of people he built a product called Quicken."
Today Intuit continues to produce financial products like
Quicken for individuals, QuickBooks for small businesses, and TurboTax for
annual tax returns.
Harry Pforzheimer, head of communications at Intuit, says
Smith is the most impressive leader he’s worked with in his 34 years in
business.
"There is an amazing side of him that’s very
humble," said Pforzheimer. "And yet the energy level, the commitment,
the values that he brings are just world class."
Senior vice president Nora Denzel says Smith is made from a
unique moral fabric.
"I didn’t know much about West Virginia but he makes me interested in West Virginia to understand if that is the norm," said Denzel.
"Just the way he was raised. He wears that externally and he’s never
strayed from his roots."
"I think he’s probably one of the best exports that West Virginia has," she said. "I tell you that Brad’s moral
compass is probably one of the strongest ones in the industry and it’s really
refreshing."
Smith grew up in Kenova, WV,
with a population of about 1300 people. He's the middle son of three boys.
"It was a rough-and-tumble, fun upbringing with great
friends," said Smith. "Kids played out all night and the moms had to
come out and say ‘time to come in for dinner.’"
Smith said his life lessons from West Virginia include integrity, humility and teamwork.
"You learn in West Virginia life is a team sport. Communities stick together. Families stick together. Those things have stuck with me and they keep
me grounded."